What is the fascination with the AK?

[BigBlueDodge]

Can anyone explain what the fascination on AK's are? I went to the Dallas gun show and noticed that there were TONS of them being sold. I looked at the ballistics of the 7.62x39 round, and it seems very underpowered to do any kind of real hunting. At least the .223 is a great varmint hunting round, which is why I could see some value in the AR guns. Plus, AK's aren't known to be particularly accurate guns, and most I've seen look to be very cheaply made (stamped metal, low quality wood). What is the draw of these guns? With the rampant fear going on, it seems as though AK's are being snapped up at ferocious rates. Other than for plinking, what good is an AK for?

Please don't take this post as me being condescending, or attacking. I'm really trying to understand what the draw is, because neither the guns nor the round seems particuarly interesting.

[nitrogen]

Honestly? I think it's because they were pretty much banned/restricted once.

Once someone tells you that you cant have something, you want it all the more.

That's why I want another AR :D

[Mike1951]

Could be that they work every time no matter what condition or what you do to them.

Could be that ammunition in the past was extremely cheap allowing much more shooting than with other calibers.

Could be that many of our fighting men will, if they can, pick up and use the AK over what they were issued.

[AEA]

Could be that recoil is very light and can be shot by even a small child fairly accurately.

[Beiruty]

The only AK I like are the new modern russian made. Nothing else. I prefer this one: http://warfare.ru/?lang=&catid=246&linkid=1811" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

NB: Those are military grade rifles. NOT available for civilians. Thus we can only admire those marvelous engineering tools. What I am eye those is the civilian FS2000.

[BobCat]

They used to be cheap, ammunition for them used to be cheap, they have a reputation for being far more rugged and reliable than the AR-15, and they used to be real cheap.

Do you recall that nazi helmets and emblems used to be popular with "outlaw" motorcycle gangs? I think there is a mystique about anything identified with "the other side" that appeals to rebellious youth.

I've shot an AK-clone, and an SKS. The Chinese SKS was more accurate and better fitted. I would shoot neither at 600 yards, but my AR-15 holds the ten-ring at that range, every month. (As long as I don't twitch, jerk, or sneeze when the shot breaks).

I do not know the answer to your question, but I think the popularity of the AK is that they hold a lot of rounds, and they used to be cheap.

Regards,
Andrew

[smyrna]

Can anyone explain what the fascination on AK's are? ... What is the draw of these guns?

I think it could be the way wisps of blue wood smoke emanate from the forend after rapidly firing several 30 round mags.

Seriously...What the others said.

[Lodge2004]

While visiting family for Thanksgiving, my brother showed me his new purchase...an AK clone. It was, I believe, made by Arsenal and was more expensive than my Bushmaster. It was very well made and was the epitome of the "evil black rifle". I want one now.

[HankB]

Both AKs and ammo were cheap.

And the rifles were/are reliable.

Ballistics are more than adequate for deer.

And both AKs and ammo were cheap - and the rifles were/are reliable.

[troglodyte]

Don't think so much along the lines of hunting/long range targets. Think along the lines of self defense.

AKs are rugged and will shoot everytime you pull the trigger. They require little in the way of cleaning or upkeep (not that you should forego these just good to know if you can't). They are accurate for any real self defense range you might find yourself in. They are compact and more so with a folding stock.

Recoil is very managable with a round that can, and I hate to use a worn out cliche, turn cover into concealment. I don't know how true it is but a .30 caliber bullet is going to do some damage.

They were cheap as is/was the ammo and you could pick up extra magazines by the truckload for fairly cheap.

I do think the whole "ban" issue had some bearing but mostly it was the AKs reputation that finally caught on in the US. Once people started seeing that this cheap combloc, stamped receiver, rough edged, ugly furniture gun would work and work and had decent enough accuracy for what it was intended for then it gained a following.

Just as the AK has the stigma of not being accurate, the AR is similarly considered a jam-a-holic unless kept absolutely clean. I have very limited AR experience so I don't know if it is true or not and I don't personally think ARs are inherently "bad". My AKs can certainly out shoot me, not saying much. I consider the argument as a Ford/Chevy debate or maybe more apples/oranges.

The biggest arguement I ever see with the AK is the accuracy issue. AKs were not designed to be target rifles. They were designed to be MOM (minute of man) at "normal" combat ranges. They were also designed to be caveman simple since they might be issued to every breathing communist on two legs.

AR or AK? Figure out what you want it for and what to do and make your choice. Can't really go wrong, they're both guns

[RiverRat]

It shoots every time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6BpI3xD6h0 Here is a nicely done comparison with conclusions. I have each :)

[shootthesheet]

I almost never shoot over 150 yards so an AR (5.56/.223) or AK (7.62x39) is perfect for hogs and deer. Fact is most shots are taken at shorter ranges so a supped up rifle is overkill to me. Why shoot a bullet that will travel a mile when the shot is at less than 300 yards?

Also, the ammo is cheaper as are the rifles. No, they aren't anything near what the battlefield rifles are but they are useful to have. Any auto loading "clone" rifle that comes in that price range is. I would like to have a well made AK but I don't own one for the same reason I won't own a Mini-14/30. They are overpriced and just don't shoot much better than the AK I bought.

I have and have had "deer rifles" of various calibers and values. I found I shot them twice a year. Once to make sure the scope was still "on" and when I was harvesting a deer. I did this because the ammo is so high. I can shoot my clones all year in various configurations and have a ball doing it. And, I have little worry that I am going to scratch or otherwise harm one of them. Mine has its place but most of the time its place is locked in the safe while I am out shooting the AR or AK.

[subsonic]

Can anyone explain what the fascination on AK's are? I went to the Dallas gun show and noticed that there were TONS of them being sold. I looked at the ballistics of the 7.62x39 round, and it seems very underpowered to do any kind of real hunting.

They're reliable, fun and (until Obama) inexpensive. The 7.62x39 ballistics are similar to the 30-30 and that round has taken a lot of game over the years.

[nuparadigm]

Fascination? Not really on my part.

The ones I have owned were kind of like Glocks: they still go "bang" even when they're filthy dirty and abused.

[bdickens]

History.